Control system



March 2 1, 1939. H. T; SEELEY 2,151,160

CONTROL S YSTEM Filed July 16, 1957 Inventor: Harold T. Seeleg,

Patented Mar. 21, 1939' a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE General Electric New York Company, a corporation of Application July 16, 1937, Serial No. 153,953

13 Claims.

My invention relates to control systems for dynamo-electric machines and particularly to systems for controlling the field connections of a synchronous machine such as a synchronous motor.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement for effecting the connection 'of a field winding of a synchronous machine to a source of excitation when the speed of the machine increases above a predetermined value.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement for eiiecting the connection of a synchronous motor field winding to a source of excitation in response to the frequency of pulsation and the magnitude of the current in the motor armature circuit and particularly an arrangement which is compensated for variations in the voltage of the alternating current supply circuit connected to the motor armature circuit. a

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement for eflecting the application of excitation to a synchronous motor when the speed thereof exceeds a predetermined value and for eifecting the removal of excitation from the synchronous motor when the motor falls out oi. synchronism. I

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved synchronous motor control arrangement of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of A. E. Anderson, Serial No. 745,744, filed September 2'7, 1934, and assigned to the same assignee as this application.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which diagrammatically illustrates a synchronous motor control system, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents a synchronous motor having an armature winding 2 and a field winding 3. In order to simplify the disclosure, I have shown my invention in connection with a full voltage starting system whereby the synchronous motor is started as an induction motor by connecting the motor armature winding directly to the alternating current supply circuit while the field winding of the motor is short-circuited through a suitable resistor. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to any particular arrangement ior starting the motor. As shown inthe drawing, the armature winding 2 is arranged to be connected directly to an alternating current supply circuit 4 by means of a suitable switch 5 having a closing coil 6 that is arranged to be connected across one phase of the supply circuit 4 when a suitable control switch 1 is closed. As shown in the drawing, the control switch I is manually operated, but it is obviousto those skilled in the art that it may be automatically-controlled in -any suitable manner so that it is closed when it is desired to start the motor I. In the circuit of the closing coil 6, I also provide the normally closed contacts of a switch 8, which may be controlled in any suitable manner so that it is opened when it is desired to-stop the motor. The switch 5, when closed, completes through its auxiliary 1 contacts 9. a locking circuit for the closing coil 6 so that the starting control switch 1 maybe opened without effecting the opening of the switch 5.

The field winding 3 of the motor I is arranged to be connected toa suitable source of excitation in by means of a field switch II when it is closed. When the switch I l is open, its auxiliary contacts 12 connect a suitable discharge resistor 13 across the terminals of the field winding 3.

In accordance with the embodiment of my invention, shown in the drawing, I control the closing of the field switch ll by means which depends for its operation upon the magnitude of current and on the frequency of the current pulsations produced in the motor armature circuit while the motor is operating out of synchroism as an induction motor, and control the opening of the field switch I] by means which depends for its opeation on the magnitude and phase angle of armature current of the motor when it falls out of synchronism. These results are obtained, in the arrangement shown in the drawing 'by a relay I5 which has a rotatable member l6 ari'd'a cooperating wattmetric driving element I! that includes a current winding l8 energized in [response to the current in one of the conductors supplying current to the motor armature winding 2' and a voltage winding I! connected across one of the phases of the supply circuit 4. The driving element l1 exerts in one direction on the movable member 16 a torque proportional to El sin (0-), where E represents .the supply circuit voltage applied to the circuit of the voltage winding I9; I represents the current in the supply circuit conductor to which the current winding I8 is connected; 0 represents the phase angle by which I lags behind E; and 5 represents the angle by which the current in the voltage winding l9 lags in the voltage E. Theresin (.0- 4a) sin (9--) where Z represents the impedance of the circuit through which the current I flows. On threephase circuits it is advantageous to choose the connections so that e=30, when the motor is operating at unity power factor.

Also, in accordance with my invention, I provide the rotatable member I6 with another driving element 20 which has a voltage winding 2I connected to one of the phases of the supply circuit 4 and which is designed so as to exert a torque on the rotatable element It in a direction opposite to the torque exerted by the wattmetric device I I. As shown in the drawing, the voltage winding 2I is connected in parallel with the voltage winding I9 01' the wattmetric device II so that the opposing torque exerted by the driving element 20 is proportional to KE", where K represents a constant. Therefore, the resultant torque exerted on the movable element I6 by the two driving elements I1 and 20 is proportional to 2 sin 0-102 Since the relay has negligible spring restraint, its position depends mainly on the algebraic sign oi! Therefore, it will be seen that the operation 0! the relay I5 is not affected by normal changes in the magnitude of the supply circuit voltage.

When the torque of the wattmetric element I'I predominates, the movable member I8 is operated so as to eflect the closing 0! the contacts 22 and thereby complete an energizing circuit for a relay 24. This relay 24 is designed in any suitable manner, examplesoi which are well known in the art, so that it moves instantaneously to itsenergized position when the winding oi! the relay is energized but does not return to its deenergized position until a predetermined time has elapsed after its winding is. deenergized. 3

Associated with the relay 24 is an auxili time relay 25, an energizing circuit for which is arranged to be energized through contacts 28 of relay 24 when it is in its energized position and the field switch I I is open. The relay 25 is similar in construction to the time relay 24 in that it operates substantially instantaneously when its winding is energized, but it does not move to its deenergized position until a predetermined time interval has elapsed after its winding is deenerwhen energized, the relay :5 opens its contacts 21 which are in the original energizing circuit of the relay 24 and closes its contacts 24 which are in the energizing circuit of the closing coil 2! of The opening of the contacts 21 ct relay 25, however, does not eii'ect the dethe field switch II.

energization or the relay 24 as this relay. when energized, completes through its contacts 34 a shunt circuit around the contacts 21 of relay 25. The closing-o! the contacts 24 of relay 25 does not elect the energization of the closing coil 25 of thefieldswitch II attnistimeasthcclrcmtior this closing coil is open at the contacts 2| oi relay 24 until the motor speed is above a predetermined value. Since the field switch II cannot close until both 01 the relays 24 and 25 have been energized and the relay 24 cannot be energized until the switch 5 has been closed and starting current has been supplied to the motor, it is evident that my improved control arrangement checks the continuity of the motor armature circuit and the presence of motor armature current beiore permitting the application of excitation to the motor field winding.

In order to remove excitation from the motor I when it falls out of synchronism, the relay 24, when energized, completes through its contacts 42 a short-circuit around the closing coil 29 of the field switch II. Since the relay 24, when energized, operates substantially instantaneously, it effects the opening of the field switch II as soon as the magnitude and phase lag of the motor current reach such values as to cause the relay i 5 to close the contacts 22. Therefore, the removal 01 excitation from the motor when it falls out of synchronism is effected independently or the frequency of the armature current pulsations whereas the application of excitation depends upon the length of time a current pulsation remains below a predetermined value and, therefore, depends it upon the frequency oi the current pulsation.

Since it may be'desirable in some instances to recalibrate the relay I5 so that it operates in response to a diflerent iunction oi the product of the armature voltage and current for field removal, than for field application, I provide a resistor 22 in series with the winding 2| of relay I5 and contacts 24 on the field switch II for switch I I is closed. Therefore, it takes a larger value of El: sin (0--) to close the contacts 22 for field removal than it does ior application.

The operation of the embodiment oi my'invention shown in the drawing is as follows:

When it is desired to start the motor I, the control switch I is closed-to complete through the contacts oi the control switch I an energizing circuit for the closing coil 6 or the switch 5. The closing or the switch .5 connects the armature winding-2 oi the motor I directly across the supply circuit 4 so that the motor starts as an induction motor. At this time a circuit for the motor field winding 2 is completed through the discharge resistor I3 and the contacts I2 oi the field switch I I. The motor armature current that fiows, as soon as the switch 5 is closed, is of such a magnitude and phase as to cause the relay II to close immediately its contacts 22 and thereby complete an energizing circuit for the relay 24 through the contacts 21 of relay 25 and the contacts 25 on the switch 5. The relay 24 immediately moves to its energized position, and the closing of its contacts 30 completes a shunt circuit around the contacts 21 of the relay 25 so that the subsequent energization of the relay "does not effect the deenergization of relay 24. The closing of the contacts 28 of relay 24 completes an energizing circuit for relay 25 through contacts 45 on the switch 5 and contacts 21 on the field switch II so that the relay 25 immediately moves to its energized position. The closing of the contacts 25 0! relay 25 prepares an energizing circuit for the closing coil 25 of the field switch II, but this energizing circuit is open at this time I at the contacts 2| or the energized relay 24.

"short-circuiting this resistor when the field the cyclic changes in the reactance of the motor armature circuit caused by the salient poles of the motor rotor passing by the magnetic poles of the rotating field produced by the armature current. Since all of the rotor poles are alike before the field winding is excited, the pulsations in the armature current have a frequency equal to twice the frequency of induced field current at speeds above 75% synchronous speed. Until the motor reaches a predetermined speed, which depends upon the setting of the relay IS, the magnitude and phase of the motor armature current are such that the relay I5 maintains its contacts 22 continuously closed. When the motor speed increasesabove this predetermined value, the magnitude and phase of the motor armature current are such that, during a portion of each pulsation of the armature current, the relay I5 maintains its contacts 22 open and thereby interrupts the energizing circuit of the relay. 24. However, the relay 24 does not move to its deenergized position until the motor speed has reached such a value that the frequency of the armature current pulsations is such that the duration of each half pulsation of current, during which the contacts 22 are open, is long enough to allow the relay 24 to drop out and thereby open its contacts 30 in its own holding circuit. The closing of the contacts 3| of relay 24 completes an energizing circuit for the closing coil 29 of the field switch II through the contacts 35 of switch 5 and contacts 28 of current'and the motor pulls into synchronism.

The opening of the contacts I2'of the field switch II disconnects the discharge resistor I3 from across the terminals of the field winding 3.

By opening its contacts 25, the relay 24 effects the-deenergization of the relay 25 which, after a predetermined time interval,,which is sumclently long to permit the motor to pull into synchronism, opens its contacts 28 and'closes its contacts 21. This time delay also insures that the relay 24 doesnot become energized due to the relay I5 momentarily closingits contacts 22 in response to a current disturbance produced in the motor armature circuit while the motor is pulling into synchronism.

By closing its contacts 34, the field switch I I short-circuits the resistor 33 so that the impedance of the circuit of winding 2| of relay I5 is decreased and, therefore, the relay I5 responds to a different function of the motor armature voltage and current after the switch II closes.

' As long as the motorcontinues to operate in synchronism with the voltage of the supply circult 4, the phase relation between the armature current and voltage and the magnitude of the armature current are such that the relay I5 maintains its contacts 22 open. When, however, the motor falls out of synchronism, the power factor of the motor becomes sufilciently lagging and the current becomes sufilciently great ,to causethe relay I5 to close its contacts 22 and thereby complete the heretofore described energizing circuit for the relay 24. The relay 24 immediately moves to its energized position, and the closing of its contfits 42 completes a shunt circuit around the closing coil 29 of the field switch II. The field switch II immediately moves to its open position thereby disconnecting the field winding 3 from the source of excitation I0 and reconnecting thedischarge resistor I3 across the terminals of the field winding 3. The energizat'ion of the relay 24 and the closing of the contacts 31 of the field switch II also effect the completion of the energizing circuit of the relay 25.

The motor I continues to operate as an induction motor until the speed thereof again reaches .a value sufilciently high to cause the relay 24 to move to its deenergized position and effect, in the manner heretofore described, the connection of the field winding 3 to the source of excitation I0.

While I have, in accordance with the patent statutes, shown and described my invention as applied to a particular system and as embodying various devices diagrammatically indicated, changes and modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor having an armature winding connected to said supply circuit, a field winding for said motor, a source of excitation for said field winding, and means dependent upon the frequency of the current pulsations produced in the motor armature current when the motor is operating at a subsynchronous speed for controlling the connection of said source of excitation to said field winding including means dependent upon the magnitude of the armature current and means for compensating for changes in the magnitude of the armature current by changes in the voltage of said supply circuit.

2. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor having an armature winding connected to said supply circuit, a field winding for said motor, a source of excitation for said field winding, and means dein one direction on said movable member a force.

proportional to a function 05 the motor armature current, means for exerting in the opposite direction on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the voltage of said supply circuit, and timing means controlled in accordance with the interval during which said movable member remains in a predetermined posi-- tion.

3. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor having an armature winding connected to said supply circuit, a field winding for said motor, a source of excitation for said field winding, and means dependent able. member, means for exerting in one direction on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the product of the motor armature current and the supply circuit voltage, means for exerting in the opposite direction on said movable member a force proportional to a iunction oi the voltage said supply circuit, and timing means controlled in accordance with the interval during which said movable member remains in a predetermined position.

4. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor having an armature winding connected to said supply cir cult, a field winding for said motor, a source of excitation for said field winding; and means dependent upon the frequency of the pulsations produced in a predetermined function of the product of the motor armature current and the supply circuit voltage when the motor is operating at a subsynchronous speed for controlling the connection of said source of excitation to said field winding including means for compensating said excitation controlling means for changes in the voltage of said supply circuit.

5. Incombination,an alternatingcurrent supply circuit, a synchronous motor having an armature winding connected to said supply circuit, a field winding for said motor, a source of excitation for said field winding, and means dependent upon the frequency of the current pulsations produced in the motor armature current when the motor is operating at a subsynchronous speed for controlling the connection of said source of excitation to said field winding including a mov able member, means for exerting in one direction on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the motor armature current, means for exertlng'in the opposite direction on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the voltage of said supply circuit, a timing device, means controlled by the position of said movable member for initiating the operation of said timing device, and means re-' sponsive to the operation oi. said timing device for effecting the connection of said source 01' excitation to said field winding.

6. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor-having an armature winding connected to said supply circuit, a field winding for said motor, a source of ex citation, a switch for connecting said source of excitation to said field winding, and means for controlling the operation of said switch including a movable member, means for exerting in one direction on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the motor armature current, means for exerting in the opposite direction on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the supply circuit voltage, and means dependent upon the position of said field switch for varying the force produced on said movable member by said force producing means which exerts a force proportional to a function of said supply circuit voltage.

7. In combintion, an alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor having an armature winding connected to said supply circuit, a field winding for said motor, a source of excitation, a field switch for connecting said source to said field winding, and means for eflect' ing the closing of said field switch when the motor speed is above a predetermined value and for opening said field switch when the motor i'alls out of synchronism including a movable member, means for exerting a force in one direction on said movable membensaid means including a current winding connected in series relation with said motor armature winding, means ineluding a voltage windingenergized from said supply circuit Ior exerting a force in the opposite direction on said movable member, and

means responsive to the closing of said field switch for changing the electrical constants of the circuit of said voltage winding of said force producing means.

8. In combintion, an alternating current sup is above a predetermined value and for opening said field switch when the motor falls out of synchronism including a movable member, a wattmetric device for exerting a force in one direction on said movable member, said device having a voltage winding energized from said supply circuit and a current winding connected in series relation with one phase of said motor armature winding, a device including a voltage winding energized from one phase of said supply circuit for exerting a force in the opposite direction on said movable member, and means responsive to the closing of said field switch for changing the electrical constants of the circuit of said last mentioned voltage winding;

9. In a system including an alternating current supply circuit connected to a synchronous machine of the type in which pulsations are produced in the armature current thereof when the machine is operating as an induction motor at subsynchronous speeds near synchronous speed, means dependent upon the frequency of said armature current pulsations for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of said machine including means dependent upon a predetermined characteristic of the motor armature current, and means for compensating s'aid frequency dependent means for changes produced in said characteristic of the amature current by changes in the voltage of said supply circuit.

10. In a system including an armature current supply circuit connected to a synchronous machine of the type in which pulsations are produced in the armature current thereof when the machine is operating as an induction motor at subsynchronous speeds near synchronous speed, means dependent upon the frequency of said armature current pulsations for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of said machine including means dependent upon the magnitude and phase 01' the motor armature current, and means for compensating said frequency dependent means for changes produced in the magnitude of the armature current by changes in the voltage of said supply circuit.

11. In a system including an armature current supply circuit connected to a synchronous machine ot the type in which pulsations are produced in the armature current thereof when the machine is operatingas an induction motor at subsynchronous speeds near synchronous speed, means dependent upon the frequency of the pulsations produced in a predetermined function oi the product oi the motor armature current and the supply circuit voltage for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of said machine including means for compensating said electrical connection controlling means for changes in the voltage of said supply circuit.

12. In a system including an armature current supply circuit connected to a synchronous machine oi. the type inwhich pulsations are produced in the armature current thereof when the machine is operating as an induction motor at subsynchronous speeds near synchronous speed, means for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of said machine including a movable member, means for exerting on said movable member a force proportional to a function 0! the motor armature current, means for exerting on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the supply circuit'voltage, and means responsive to a predetermined movement of said movable member for establishing said predetermined electrical connection and for causing said last-mentioned force-exerting means to exert on said movable member a iorce proportional .toa diilerent function of the supply circuit voltage.

13. In a system including an armature current supply circuit connected to a synchronous machine of the type in which pulsations are produced in the armatu'recurrent thereof when the machine is operating as an induction motor at subsynchronous speeds near synchronous speed, means for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of said machine including a movable member, means for exerting on said movable member a force proportional to a function of the product of the motor armature current and the supply circuit voltage, means for exerting on said movable member another force proportional to a function of the supply circuit voltage, and means responsive to a predetermined movement of said movable member for establishing said predetermined electrical connection oi said 'machine and'for varying the connections or one of said force-exerting means so as to change the force exerted thereby.

, HAROLD T. SEELEY. 

